Your 3-Step Playbook to Landing Any Internship or Graduate Job

Step 1: Gather intel on what employers want

The first step to any great application is to figure out what recruiters and hiring managers look for in a candidate. After all, how can you convince them that you’re the perfect fit, if you don’t know what that means?

👉 Here’s how

1. Research the role and the employer.
   1. Use the job description as your starting point for exploring the role and what’s expected.
   2. Look up the employer’s profile on Prosple and see what past interns and recent grads have said about their time there, what tips they have for landing the role, and what skills & qualities you need to succeed at the company. 
   3. For more intel, reach out to past interns and recent grads on LinkedIn. Conduct informational interviews to get the inside scoop and maybe even pave the path to a referral (more on that later!).
   4. Get to know recruiters at career fairs, express your enthusiasm for the role, and ask them to describe what their ideal candidate looks like.
2. Jot down all the abilities and attributes the employer seems to be after. These will give you an idea of what experiences and qualifications you should emphasise when you apply.

📌 Keep in mind

• In general, there are four key things that employers look for and wish they could find more easily: an understanding of their organisation, commercial awareness, resilience, and emotional intelligence.
• Don’t just look for what employers want for the specific role – also look into what they want for the organisation as a whole. Organisations who run graduate programs often care more about your long-term potential and culture fit than your immediate skills. So while you do want to show that you have the right skill set for the job, also be ready to convince them that you align with their values and have the potential to grow and contribute in the long run.

Step 2: Give employers what they want

Now that you know what the employer is looking for, you should now present yourself as the perfect candidate – one they’d be silly not to hire! 

👉 Here’s how

1. Think about your own background. Whether it's side projects, extracurricular activities, sports, or volunteer work, consider everything that demonstrates you possess the skills and qualities you listed out earlier.
2. Weave these examples into each stage of the application process – Use them to answer those pesky application form questions, sprinkle them throughout your resume or cover letter, and have them ready to share during the interview. 
3. Use the STAR method to structure those stories. (While this technique is usually recommended for interviews, it’s useful for any part of the application as it provides a ready-made framework recruiters are used to.)

📌 Keep in mind

• Focus on the most relevant stories – and by “relevant,” we mean staying laser-focused on the recruiters’ needs. Does it help them make a decision? Does it make it easy for them to make a case for you? If the answer is “no,” hit DELETE.
• Make sure every piece of information you include is crystal clear or you risk losing recruiters. Remember: They have to review thousands of resumes and cover letters every year, so they don’t have time to make sense of vague bullet points on your CV! When in doubt, ask for help from your school’s writing centre or the career centre.
• Also remember that recruiters are looking for authenticity. Pick stories that show the real you and don’t exaggerate or falsify anything.

Step 3: Get a referral

A referral is like having someone inside the company give you a thumbs up, saying, "I know this person, and they would be a great fit here." Referrals can help move your resume to the top of the pile, raising your chances of getting an interview – if not the job itself.

👉 Here’s how

1. Check your network first. It’s easier to get a referral from someone you actually know. If you’re lucky, maybe a family member, friend, or former colleague works at your target company. 
2. If you don’t have any immediate connections, try reaching out to alumni from your uni, folks on Linkedin, and participants in online communities related to the industry.
3. If you reach out to someone who’s never met you before, think from their perspective: “What would make me want to refer a total stranger?!” Make a case for yourself, be polite, and provide the job ID or link.
4. For more in-depth information on getting a referral, see “How to Get an Employee Referral for Internships and Graduate Jobs.”

📌 Keep in mind

• As mentioned, it’s better to already have a relationship with the person you’re requesting a referral from. So your best bet is to start networking as soon as you have an inkling of what companies you’re interested in!
• Referrals don’t guarantee you an interview or a job. However, they do raise your chances of being noticed.

What next?

Now that you know exactly what you need to do, it's time to go after that prized graduate job or paid internship – or find even more related opportunities on Prosple’s jobs board, designed for students like you! Good luck & happy hunting!